Touching tiny lives, one bike at a time

Jaap Kamp and Alfons Lievens cross the finish line at the London to
Paris Bike Ride 2007

1 Aug 2007 Posted: 14:34 (CET) - Source:
Corporate Communications

Story
highlights:

Former SWIFT Chairman Jaap Kamp and Alfons Lievens from
ESA cross the finish line at the London to Paris Bike Ride
2007

A total of EUR 6,876 raised for Action Medical
Research's Touching Tiny Lives Campaign, including EUR 1,366
in matching funds and a EUR 2,500 pledge from SWIFT

SWIFT staff encouraged to participate in London to Paris
Bike Ride 2008 as a team

Jaap Kamp and Alfons Lievens cross the finish line at
the London to Paris Bike Ride
2007

Bright and early on
Wednesday morning 25 July, day one of the London to Paris Bike Ride 2007 –
two things were on Jaap Kamp’s mind: “Am I going to cross the finish line
this year?” and “How the hell will Alfons Lievens ever get from London to
Paris on an enormously heavy bike and a pair of sandals and socks?” Thus
began the exhilarating 300-mile (483-kilometer), four day cycling
adventure for our former Chairman and SWIFT colleague to raise funds for
Action Medical Research’s (AMR) Touching Tiny Lives Campaign.

Preparing for the journey ahead

For Alfons, the challenge was to “ride a bike from the shadows of Big
Ben in London to the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.” He explains in
his online journal (http://www.lievens.biz/lopa/lopa_en.html): “To put
this into perspective, I clock up an average of 15-20 miles per year, so
as you can imagine, this will be tough!” He biked a total of 3,030
kilometers (1,882 miles) since March 2007 to prepare for the event. “That
is more than the distance from Brussels to Rome and back,” Alfons reveals,
adding, “Eight times I woke up at four o’clock in the morning to bike to
the office.”

Because it’s his second time in the event, Jaap’s regimen wasn’t as
rigorous as it was last year. “This year, I made a few 50 kilometer trips
and was confident that I could tackle each 120 kilometer stage without
special training,” he says. “Mentally you know what lies ahead the second
time you do it, so you feel at ease from the beginning.”

Touching Tiny Lives is Action Medical Research’s
special campaign to help sick and vulnerable babies.

Every year 70,000 babies are born with problems and need
special care, and 50,000 are born prematurely. Not enough money is
raised to help find the causes and treatments for conditions which
affect expectant mothers and their babies. Every year AMR organises
the London to Paris Bike Ride, which helps raise funds for Touching
Tiny Lives.

More info on AMR: www.action.org.uk

Surprises lurk at every stage

Despite his unorthodox choice of footwear and Jaap’s reservations about
his mode of transport, Alfons was confident that his hybrid city-bike was
FNAO-compliant. Of course, that was confirmed after seeing mountain bikes
and a three wheeler ice car, along with modern light-weight bikes.
Unfortunately, he was not prepared for the hilly roads of southeast London
on day one, the longest route of the four day race. “Beforehand, the route
was described as being undulating. Now I know how you have to spell that
word: with some F’s in the middle!” he jokes. “But everyone arrived in
time to catch the ferry from Dover to France.”

As usual for an event of this size, a few cyclist
experienced hiccups such as flat tires, broken equipment and dehydration.
Fortunately, the staff from AMR made sure they did not over extend
themselves and that they rode responsibly and in an orderly fashion.
Special signs were posted to clearly indicate each route. Caterers and
doctors were also present to make sure the cyclists stayed in perfect
condition with nutritious food and drinking facilities.

In the middle of the French countryside, Jaap experienced long
stretches of fatigue...but not necessary due to the topography. “During
the mornings of day two and three, there wasn’t any coffee in sight for
over three hours of biking because most villages in northern France have a
little old church but unfortunately no cafe or bar,” he explains. “This
revelation made me suddenly realise how addicted I am to one or two cups
of coffee during mid-morning.”

At the final stage of the bike ride on Saturday 29 July, the
cyclists rode through Paris in a convoy via the Arc de Triomphe over the
Champs Elysées on their way to the Eiffel Tower where friends, family and
champagne await. “People standing beside the road were waving to us,”
Alfons recalls. “They took pictures, and they clearly were impressed by
our large group of bike riders.” He adds, “I can assure you, we enjoyed it
a lot, and many of us became emotional.”

When crossing the finishing line, “Special feelings pop up,” Jaap
shares. “I am moved by riding down the Champs Elysées on a bike with over
400 people and seeing everyone touched by this. Paris and its visitors do
not expect it and are positively surprised.” He stresses, “It is an
emotional ending knowing that we made it and that friends are waiting to
celebrate it all.”

In addition to being a race of endurance, the London to Paris Bike Ride
is also a fundraiser, which wasn’t lost in Alfons’ mind. He devised a
clever scheme to raise money by asking fellow SWIFT colleagues to sponsor
each kilometer or mile that it will take him to ride from London to Paris.
As an incentive, SWIFT pledged to match each contribution from employees.
The plan was so successful that he extended it to cover the distance back
to Brussels from Paris!

“I signed an agreement with AMR that I would raise a
minimum of EUR 1,500 for their Touching Tiny Lives Appeal,” he notes. “To
be honest, I never expected to succeed in raising the full
amount.” In total, Alfons ended up raising EUR 4,376 for
AMR. “I have to thank, from the bottom of my heart,” he says,
“all of the colleagues who were kind enough to sponsor me.”

Next year, both Alfons and Jaap look forward to participating in the
London to Paris Bike Ride 2008 with a bigger SWIFT team. “I’ve said that
this would be a once in a lifetime event for me – I even joked that I
would sell my bike afterwards in an auction for AMR,” says Alfons. “But I
am changing my mind now; I would love to participate again next year.”

Jaap also encourages more SWIFT staff to take part in this dynamic
event. “AMR is a highly professional and widely respected organisation,”
remarks Jaap. “For this year’s event, over one million euros was raised by
450 participants. We have contributed to an excellent cause and we feel
great in achieving it all, so I invite you join us in 2008.”

Congratulations to Jaap and Alfons for crossing the finish line at the
London to Paris Bike Ride 2007!